Intriguing doses of sweet spices, cocoa nibs and pumpkin transform an exceptional porter into a mesmerizing potion. Pour this tantalizing brew into a snifter and experience its many eccentric nuances, which will delight your taste buds.

This is the same award-winning recipe that garnered a GOLD MEDAL at GABF in 2007. Formerly known simply as Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter, we’ve named it T.R.E.A.T.: The Royal Eccentric Ale Treatment.

4.5/3.75/4.25/4/4What initially appears jet black fades a little when held truly up to the light, but still maintains a deep difficultly penetrated cola blackish. A goood finger of creamy deep tan head leaves hints and promises along the sides, and never fully abandons the top of the tower where it sits.

I swear to god the first thing I smelled when I poured this beer was a late summer bucket of perfectly ripe blackberries. Don't ask. Letting it settle in and warm a little bit my fantasy afternoons by the post office fighting off thorns to collect the fruit of the gods is relegated to fantastical whimsy. More familiar aromas crowd in: oily chocolate and coffee beans. Some earthiness I attribute primarily to the pumpkin, some roast and maybe a touch of cinnamon when I dig for it. Aroma is not particularly strong, though, which is a little disappointing. The components are appealing, but they hide behind themselves.

The first flavour to jump in is undeniably chocolate. Dual layers compete here: a darker slightly bitter bakers chocolate and a cherubically milk-sweet. They balance one another incredibly well. Twisting between these threads I get bits and pieces of spices; primarily the cinnamon, but a touch of cloves here and there. The pumpkin itself does not particularly stand out, to the point where if I didn't know this was supposed to be a pumpkin porter I would most likely not pick it out. Any bit I find is largely because I'm looking out specifically for it.Medium-thick, and almost a bit ashy with the carbonation. Finish is initially the milky-sweet, then fading to a longer bitter finale. Delicious beer. If you're looking for a big dark pumpkin pie, there are better options. If you're looking for a really good chocolatey tasty porter, this is a very solid choice. Will drink it again without hesitation.